Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

Lee Andrews & The Hearts (3)

Posted on October 30 2009 by dion1

Lee Andrews & The Hearts (3) (Philadelphia)

Personnel :

Lee Andrews aka Arthur Lee Andrew Thompson (Lead）

Rory Calhoun aka Royalston Calhoun (Tenor）

Thomas 'Butch' Curry（Tenor）

Jimmy McCallister（Baritone）  John Young（Bass）

Discography :

Lee Andrews & The Hearts (3)
1954 - Maybe tou'll be there / Baby come back（Rainbow 252/Riviera 965） 
1954 - White cliffs of Dover / Much too much（Rainbow 256） 
1954 - The fairest / Bells of st. Mary's（Rainbow 259） 
1955 - Bluebird of happiness / Show me the merengue（Gotham 7318）
1956 - Lonely room / Leona（Gotham 7320）
1956 - Just suppose / It's me（Gotham 7321） 
1957 - Long lonely nights / The clock（Mainline 102/Chess-1665/Grand 157） 
1957 - Teardrops / The girl around the corner（Argo 1000/Chess-1675/Grand 156） 
1958 - Try the impossible / Nobody's home（UA 123/Casino 452） 
1958 - Why do I ? / Glad to be here（UA 136） 
1958 - Maybe you'll be there / All I ask is love（UA 151）
1962 - Together Again / My Lonely Room (Gowen 1403)
1962 - I'm sorry Pillow / Gee but I'm lonesome (Parkway 860)
1966 - You're Taking A Long Time Coming Back / Quiet As It's Kept (RCA 47 8929) 
1967 - Island Of Love / Oh My Love (Crimson 1002)
1967 - Cold Gray Dawn / All You Can Do (Crimson 1005) 
1967 - Never The Less / Never The Less (Crimson 1009)
1967 - Island Of Love / Never The Less (Crimson 1009)
1968 - I've Had It / Little Bird (Crimson 1015) 
1968 - Cold Gray Dawn / All You Can Do (Lost nite 1001) 
1968 - Oh My Love / Can't Do Without You (Lost nite 1004)
1968 - Quiet As It's Kept / Island Of Love (Lost nite 1005)
1981 - Sipping A Cup Of Coffee / Just Suppose (alt. take) (Gotham 323)
1981 - Window Eyes / Long Lonely Nights (alt. take) (Gotham 324) 
1981 - I Miss My Baby / Boom (alt. take) (Gotham 325)

Lee Andrews With The Hearts (3)
1959 - Just suppose / Boom（UA 162）
1959 - I wonder / Baby Come Back (Casino 110)
1961 - I've got a right to cry / I miss you so (Swan 4065)
1961 - A night like tonight / You Gave me (Swan 4076)
1961 - P.S I love you / I Cried (Swan 4087)
1965 - You You You / Hug-a-bee (V.I.P 1601)

The Hearts (3)
1960 - It's Unbelievable / On My Honor (Chancellor 1057)

The Five Hearts (3)
1959 - Unbelievable / Aunt Jenny (Arcade 107)

The Famous Hearts
1962 - Aisle of love / Momma (Guyden 2073)

Congress Alley
1972 - God Bless the children / Congress Alley (Avco 4610)
1973 - God Save America (Avco 4616)

Biography :

Lee Andrews & The Hearts By Marv Goldberg © 2004 by Marv Goldberg “Long Lonely Nights,” “Tear Drops,” “Try The Impossible”: those were the hits, the charted legacy of Lee Andrews and the Hearts, one of the finest groups to emerge from Philadelphia. Their story had more downs than ups, but they turned out a body of wonderful music.

Arthur Lee Andrew Thompson (guess where the “Lee Andrews” came from) was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina to a musical family. His father, Beechie Thompson, had been with the Dixie Hummingbirds gospel group. When Lee was two (around 1940), his family moved to the Woodland Avenue and 49th Street section of Southwest Philadelphia, where Lee grew up. He attended Bertram High School, where, in 1952, he helped to form a vocal group called the Dreamers. This group, which would go on to become the Hearts, was comprised of: Lee (lead), Royalston “Roy” Calhoun (first tenor), Thomas “Butch” Curry (second tenor), Jimmy McCalister (baritone), John Young (bass), and Kenny Lowe (piano).

Their influences were the usual: the Orioles, the 5 Keys, the 5 Royales, and the Ravens. Lee's special influences were Nat “King” Cole and Bing Crosby; he loved pop music, and it shows in the recordings, which are not as heavily R&B as those of their contemporaries. They originally sang spirituals, guided by Butch's aunt. But little by little they expanded their repertoire to include Rhythm 'n' Blues In July, they played the Apollo, sharing the stage with Lloyd Price, the Moonglows, the Teenchords, and the Hearts (the Baton group, of “Lonely Nights” fame).

In August, the Hearts appeared on Philadelphia's TV Bandstand. The end of the month saw them as part of the Apollo Theater's Labor Day Week show, on the same bill with the Harptones, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, Big Maybelle, the Cookies, Little Joe and the Thrillers and the Reuben Phillips Orchestra. Guess who the MC was (I'll give you a hint: his initials were “Jocko”).

Another Jocko show followed on the 14th of September at the Laurel Gardens in Newark. This time they took the stage with Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Doc Bagby, the Teenagers, the Chantels, the Channels, the Love Notes, the Sentimentals, the Shepherd Sisters, and the Shells.

By the time “Long Lonely Nights” had peaked, it had gone to 45 on the pop charts and 11 on R'n'B. In spite of the fact that the record-buying public favored Clyde's version then (it went to 1 on the R'n'B charts), it's rarely heard today. Regardless of talent, most R&B vocal groups never make the charts. Lee Andrews and the Hearts were there three times.

They weren't major hitmakers, but they did better than most. As with any group, there are a few clinkers in there, but for the most part, they came off as a polished, professional group, that probably should have done even better than they did.

http://www.myspace.com/leeandrewsandthehearts
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Ev1tiger/leehearts.html
http://www.destinationdoowop.com/leeandrewsandhearts.htm
http://home.att.net/~marvart/Lahearts/lahearts.html

SONGS :

The Hearts (3)


It's Unbelievable                      On My Honor

Lee Andrews & The Hearts (3)


All i ask is love                      Boom

CD :

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The Rockin' Kids aka The Four Queens (1)

Posted on October 29 2009 by dion1

The Rockin' Kids (New York)
aka The Four Queens (1)

Personnel :

?

Discography :

The Rockin' Kids
1958 - Yea Yea (I'm in the Mood) / Black Stockings (Dot 15749)

The Four Queens (1)
1963 - Black Stockings / It's To Late (ABC 10409)

Biography :

---

The Rockin' Kids aka The Four Queens (1)

Songs :

The Rockin' Kids

Yea Yea (I'm in the Mood) Black Stockings

The Four Queens (1)

Black Stockings / It's Too Late

...

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The Rockin' Kids aka The Four Queens (1) aka The Ace Adams Singers

Posted on October 29 2009 by dion1

The Rockin' Kids aka The Four Queens (1) aka The Ace Adams Singers

The Rockin' Kids (New York)
aka The Four Queens (1) aka Ace Adams Singers

Personnel :

?

Discography :

The Rockin' Kids
1958 - Yea Yea (I'm in the Mood) / Black Stockings (Dot 15749)

Ace Adams Singers
1958 - Ooh-Ya Ya Ya / Clang Clang - Click Click (Stan 45300)
1961 - Black Stockings / Gooey Over Louie (Abbco 46300)

The Four Queens (1)
1963 - Black Stockings / It's To Late (ABC 10409)

Biography :

The Rockin' Kids aka The Four Queens (1)

Songs :

The Rockin' Kids


Yea Yea (I'm in the Mood)                    Black Stockings

Ace Adams Singers


Ooh-Ya Ya Ya                            Clang Clang - Click Click

Gooey Over Louie

The Four Queens (1)

Black Stockings / It's Too Late

...

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The Hi Fives (1)

Posted on October 23 2009 by dion1

The Hi Fives (1) (New York)

Personnel :

?

Discography :

1956 - Throwing Pebbles In The Pond / Hong Kong (Flair X 3000)

Biography :

In 1956, three former vaude luminaries have joined forces to set up Flair -X Records here. The trio consists of former comic and gag writer Lee Tully, president and artist and repertoire head; Sid DeMay, formerly of the team of DeMav, Moore and Martin, executive veepee and sales chief. and former magician and head of. Genie Records, James Jimae, assistant i.&r. chief.

The label has already pacted th'ushes Ginny Scott and Nancy Arno, a group called the Hi Fives and singers Larry Knight, Mark Milano and Wilbur Paul. Extensive single and LP releases are planned.

The Hi Fives (1)

The Hi Fives cut "Throwing Pebbles In The Pond" b/w "Hong Kong" the same year.

The Hi Fives (1)

Songs :

Throwing Pebbles In The Pond Hong Kong

....

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The Firesiders aka The Vel-Tones (2) aka The Impacts (3)

Posted on October 21 2009 by dion1

The Firesiders aka The Vel-Tones (2) aka The Impacts (3)

The Firesiders (Niagara Falls, NY)
aka The Vel-Tones (2)
aka The Impacts (3)

Personnel :

Calvin 'Cal' Briggs

Neal Davis

Ernie Vendetti

Emilio Giondomenico

Discography :

The Vel-Tones (2)
1958 - Playboy / Cal's Tune (Coy 101)
1959 - Playboy / Cal's Tune (different take) (Kapp 268)

The Firesiders
1961 - (I'll Remember) One And All / No Ones Cares For Me (Swan 4074)

The Impacts (3)
1964 - Take My Love / Where Are You Going (PEH 7345)

Biography :

In 1958, the thought that there could one day be a "Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame" couldn't be anything but a teenage joke. Except for Elvis Presley and a handful of others, R&R was played by kids, for kids, and no one expected it to be more than that. Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry were great but existed in another world - on the radio or TV. The way youngsters experienced R&R was through the local teen combo. Every town or high school or parish had its band. Some were better than others, some could be local stars for awhile after they'd performed at a dance or hop - but for the most part they were just kids from the neighborhood, whose celebrity quickly faded.

If you lived in Niagara Falls in the late 1950s the Vel-Tones were that group. Though their story is a little different. They may not be well-remembered now but they were able to have records released on two national labels and have a career that carried them through the glory days of R&R. Another thing that was unusual was their interracial makeup which is reflected in their eclectic mix of R&R, R&B, DooWop and Rockabilly sounds. Calvin 'Cal' Briggs, Ernie Vendetti, Neal Davis and Emilio Giondomenico recorded two sides in 1958 that were released on the Coy label. Coy was a label in name only - actually put out by Fine Records of Rochester, a legendary name itself to many collectors. Playboy is a greasy teen ballad that is exactly the type of lowrider doowop that Frank Zappa loved to parody, while Cal's Tune is a rocker.

(L to R) Emilio Giondomenico, Ernie Vendetti, Calvin Briggs & Neal Davis

In 1959 these were leased to Kapp Records but the versions released by Kapp are completely different - Cal's Tune had its guitar and piano solos replaced with an sax solo, and both are more tame. The original version of Cal's Tune is highly-regarded by Rockabilly fanatics, to the point that it's recently been reproduced on vinyl. Following this they returned in 1961 as The Firesiders on Swan Records with two genre-bending sides that widen their palette to include influences of country pop and even pre-soul! The rest of their story is mostly unknown, except that they managed to change styles again and issue one more record. Under another name, of course. As The Impacts (on PEH Records) they achieve a typical mid-Sixties garage sound. They will never be in the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame but if you were there a the right time in the right place, they may have been your Rock 'N' Roll.
https://www.facebook.com/wnyfm

Songs :

The Vel-Tones (2)

Playboy Playboy (Kapp) Cal's Tunes

The Firesiders

(I'll Remember) One And All No Ones Cares For Me

The Impacts (3)

Where Are You Going

...

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The Capitals

Posted on October 20 2009 by dion1

The Capitals (New York)
(The Capitols (4))

Personnel :

?

Discography:

1959 - Write Me A Love Letter / Three O'Clock Rock (Triumph 601)

Songs :

Write Me A Love Letter Three O'Clock Rock

...

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The Vonnair Sisters

Posted on October 20 2009 by dion1

The Vonnair Sisters
Discography & Songs By Hans-Joachim

Personnel :

Renee Von Euer

Sheila Von Euer

Sonya Von Euer

Discography:

The Vonnair Sisters
1961 - Beach Love / Dum Papa Too Tah Tah (Buena Vista 383)
1962 - Goodbye To Toyland / I Don't Wanna Play In Your Ward (Buena Vista 390)
1962 - See For Yourself / Luscious Lucius (Buena Vista 399)
1962 - Watch Out For Don / Golden Rule (Buena Vista 412)
1962 - Pretty Little Girl With The Red Dress On / Blame It On My Mouth (Buena Vista 416)

Annette (Funicello) with The Vonnair Sisters
1961 - Strummin’ Song / Dreamin' About You (Buena Vista 388)

Biography :

The Vonnair Sisters were Sonia, Sheila and Renee Von Euer. They recorded for Walt Disney Music Company's Vista Records.

They also backed Annette Funicello up in 'Dreamin' About You / Strummin Song" (1961). They recorded "Beach Love" (1961) "Goodbye To Toyland" (1962) etc. While they may not be as well known as other girl groups, they too deserve recognition.

Annette (Funicello)

They released 5 solo singles and one backing Anette. They were quite talented and should have been big stars of the early sixties vocal groups. The girls deserved a much better fate on the national charts.

Songs :

The Vonnair Sisters

Goodbye To Toyland Beach Love

Dum Papa Too Tah Tah Watch Out For Don

Annette (Funicello) with The Vonnair Sisters

Dreamin' About You Strummin’ Song

....

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The Stereos (4) aka The Hi-Liters (2) aka The Hamiltones

Posted on October 18 2009 by dion1

The Hi-Liters

The Hi-Liters (2) (Portland, OR)
aka The Hamiltones aka The Stereos (4)

Personnel :

George Vereen (First Tenor)

Wiseman Moon (First Tenor)

Calvin Williams (Baritone)

Furman Haynes (Second Tenor)

Claude Chandler (Bass)

Discography :

The Hi-Liters (2)
Singles :
1956 - Ain't Givin' Up Nothing / Undecided Now (Celeste 3005)
1956 - Hello Dear / Bobby Sox Baby (Vee Jay 184)
1958 - Let Me Be True To You / In The Night (Hico 2432)
1958 - Over The Rainbow / Baby Please Be True (Hico 2433)
Unreleased :
1956 - Feeling Alright (Vee jay)
1956 - Duncan's Box (Vee jay)

Johnny Hamilton / Al Hickey & The Hi-Liters (2)
1958 - Sabada / Later Baby (Hico 2434)

George Vereen / Wiseman Moon & The Hamiltones (Hi-Liters)
1958 - You Are My Lovely One / Rock A Billy Hop (Hico 2435)

The Stereos (4)
Singles :
1962 - You Left Me Forsaken / My Heart (Robin Nest 101)
1962 - Don't Cry Darling / Run Sinner Run (Robin Nest 1588)

Lps :
1962 - The Stereos - Our Most Requested Songs (Robin Nest 2013)
Across The Alley From The Alamo / My Shy Violet / Cab Driver / San Antonio Rose / We Three / Dry Bones / SnapYour Fingers/ Green Green Grass Of Home / Swing Down Swing Chariot / Oh Lonesome Me / My Night To Howl / Always

Biography :

In 1948, Furman Haynes formed the Deep Tones, with George Vereen, Calvin Williams, Carroll Dean and Ivy Floyd. They sang spirituals and then added secular songs, such as Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Castle Rock, and The Night You Said Goodbye. Decca signed The Deep Tones to its Coral label, calling them The Four Deep Tones, even though there were five.

Deep Tones (Top row- LtoR): Calvin Williams, Carroll Dean, Furman Haynes (Bottom row- LtoR) George Vereen, Ivy Floyd

They cut four songs for Coral, and although they never had the kind of hit that would catapult them to stardom, they all built solid careers in music. In the early 1950s Haynes met Katie Williams, and when the pair married they moved to the West Coast and settled in Portland, Ore.

The Hi-Liters

The Deep Tones had changed their name to the Hi-Liters when they recorded for the Celeste label in 1956 the sides "Ain't Giving Up Nothing" / "Undecided Now". Celeste was one of the many short-lived (A little more than one year in duration) record label which specialized in R&b and headquartered in New York City during the middle fifties heyday of Rock'n Roll.

The Hi-Liters

The Hi-Liters recorded in New York City in Beltone Studios, on November 10, 1955 for Vee-Jay four sides : "Hello Dear", "Bobby Sox Baby", "Feeling Alright" and "Duncan's Box" At this time, The Hi-Liters consisted of George W. Vereen (first tenor), Wiseman Moon (first tenor), Furman Hayes (second tenor), Ivey E. Floyd (baritone), and Calvin Williams (baritone). Vereen had previously sung with the Four Knights, Moon had led the Victorians , Haynes had been with Brook Benton in the Sandmen.

The Hi-Liters

The Hi-Liters started their own record label HICO (Hi-Liters Company = HiCo) and their group now consisted of George Vereen, Wiseman Moon, Calvin Williams, Furman Haynes and Claude Chandler. Claude Chandler had been with the Cabineers. In 1958 the Hi-Liters recorded and released four singles for their HiCo label . Each side of Hico #2435 lists a Hi-Liters member and the Hamiltones. Calvin Williams confirms that the group on both sides is the Hi-Liters and not the Hamiltones. The Hamiltones must be the band.

The Stereos (L to R) : C. Williams, E. Williams, Harry Kenney, Wisemen Moon and George Vereen

In the 1960's the Hi-Liters would evolve into the Stereos (Robin Nest label) and cut two singles and one Lp : "Our Most Requested Songs" . The Stereos consisted of Hi-Liters' George W. Vereen (first tenor), Wiseman Moon (first tenor), Calvin Williams (baritone) with nem member's Eddie Williams and his big bass violin and Harry Kenney on Piano. Calvin Williams would also spend 14 years in Europe singing with the Golden Gate Quartet.
http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/ROWNEW/CastleRk.htm
http://www.classicurbanharmony.net/hico_label.htm

Songs :

The Hi-Liters (2)


Undecided                               Hello Dear                  Bobby Sox Baby


Let Me Be True To You           In The Night                      Over The Rainbow


Baby Please Be True                   Feeling Alright                Ain't Givin' Up Nothing

George Vereen & The Hamiltones    Wiseman Moon & The Hamiltones


You Are My Lovely One                        Rock A Billy Hop

The Stereos (4)


My Heart                           Don't Cry Darling               You Left Me Forsaken

Run Sinner Run

...

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The Emeralds (3)

Posted on October 17 2009 by dion1

The Emeralds (3) (Oakmont, Pittsburgh, PA)

Personnel :

Bill Pazman (Lead)

Don Slebrich (Tenor)

Don Muhall (Baritone)

George Grimes (Bass)

Discography :

1958 - You Belong To My Heart / The One I Adore (ABC 9889)
1958 - I'm Dreaming / Confess (ABC 9848)

Biography :

Group first got together in 1956 doing record hops and other local events. Pittsburgh disk jockey Jay Michael liked them and called on them frequently to appear at dances and other shows he was doing. He hooked them up with Dickie Goodman's Eldorado Records, where they recorded several masters. Bot the group felt that they have performed poorly on the masters and decided not to sign any contract with Goodman oe Eldorado.

Munhall brought the group's demo tape to New York and landed a contract with ABC Paramount Records. At their session, they did two ballads and three up-tempo tunes. In January 1958 their ABC Paramount disc was released. Their second was released in August 1958. They made many appearances for Jay Michael at record hops. Because he liked them so much, he was trying to live the rest of their lives. They did not sit well with them and early in 1959 they chose to split up.

Songs :

You Belong To My Heart I'm Dreaming

The One I Adore Confess

...

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Larry & The Conservatives

Posted on October 15 2009 by dion1

Larry & the Conservatives

Larry & The Conservatives (Chicago)

Personnel :

Larry Johnson (Lead)

J.Johnson

B. Johnson

M. DeShields

Discography :

Larry & The Conservatives
1963 - Can you Wobble / Watch your Step (Like 417)

Larry Johnson
1963 - Can You Monkey? / Watch Your Step (Zorro 418)

Larry Johnson & The Ideals (6)
1964 - Please Love Me (What's It Gonna Be) / Don't Give In (Zorro 420)

Biography :

The group, ranging in age from 13-15 were composed by Larry Johnson, his two brothers and M DeShields. In 1963, the group released "Can you Wobble" b/w "Watch your Step" on the Like Label.

Larry & The Conservatives

The Same year, Larry Johnson recorded again "Watch Your Step" with "Can You Monkey?" on the Zorro Label. Larry Johnson backed by the Ideals recorded again on the Zorro label "Please Love Me (What's It Gonna Be)" b/w "Don't Give In.

Song :

Larry & The Conservatives

Watch Your Step Can You Wobble

...

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